Lid and container

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a lid for a container, and a container with a corresponding lid, where the radially outer edge area ( 8 ) of the lid ( 2 ) displays an opening area ( 9 ), through which a tool serving as a lever can extend through the lid edge, and a rim ( 10 ) of the lid ( 2 ) is provided below the opening area ( 9 ), under which the free end of the levering tool can act on the lid ( 2 ) and the lid ( 2 ) can be at least partially lifted off the container ( 1 ) by pivoting the tool against the rim ( 10 ) of the lid ( 2 ), and the edge of the opening area ( 9 ) displays at least one part ( 11 ) that can be torn off the lid ( 2 ), or broken, when the tool is inserted into the opening area ( 9 ) or the lid ( 2 ) is levered open. As a result, a lid, or a container with lid, is created that displays an indicator clearly showing whether or not the lid has previously been lifted or detached from the container.

The invention relates to a lid for a container, and additionally to a container with lid, where the container displays a container wall, a container bottom and a container opening with an opening rim, and the lid is located on the radially inner side of the opening rim, into which it can be snapped or clamped.

A container with lid of this kind can, for example, be a paint pot, where the container opening displays an opening rim projecting radially inwards from the container wall, in which the lid is fixed by clamping or snap-fitting. Also open to consideration are containers for other materials, especially liquid materials, that display an opening rim on the radially inner side of which the lid rests.

The opening rim can, as on the aforementioned paint pot, for example, project inwards from the container wall and serve to prevent the material held in the container, e.g. paint, varnish and the like, from easily escaping through the container opening in the event of movement of the container. Furthermore, an inwardly projecting rim makes it possible to wipe off liquid material held in the container, such as paint, varnish and the like, from a tool, e.g. a brush.

The lid and the container can have any desired cross-sectional shape, particularly a circular, oval, square or any desired rectangular cross-section.

As a rule, containers of this kind are opened in that a tool is applied, over the opening rim of the container and under an annular rim flange of the lid, the latter being detached from the opening rim of the container by levering open with the help of the tool. If the container is re-sealed with the lid, it cannot be seen, possibly apart from slight marks made by the levering tool, whether or not the lid has already been removed previously.

The object of the invention is to provide a lid, and a container with lid, with an indicator that clearly shows whether or not the lid has previously been lifted or detached from the container.

According to the invention, the object is solved in that the radially outer edge area of the lid displays an opening area, through which a tool serving as a lever can extend through the lid edge, and a rim of the lid is provided below the opening area, under which the free end of the levering tool can act on the lid and the lid can be at least partially lifted off the container by pivoting the tool against the rim of the lid, and the edge of the opening area displays at least one part that can be torn off the lid, or broken, when the tool is inserted into the opening area or the lid is levered open.

As a result of the part on the rim of the opening area that can be torn off when the tool is used, it can unequivocally be seen whether or not the lid has already been detached from the container rim on a previous occasion. The opening area of the lid with the tear-off part thus serves as a tamper-proof seal for a container sealed with a lid.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the opening area is designed as a through-hole in the edge area of the lid, through which a suitable tool for levering open the lid can extend. The through-hole can display a rim, facing towards the radially outer side of the lid, that is designed as a narrow web and can thus be torn when levering off the lid.

In particular, the through-hole can be designed in the form of a slot extending in the circumferential direction of the lid.

In another development of the invention, the opening area can be sealed off by a cover before insertion of a tool, said cover being connected to the edge of the opening area via ties, and arranged and designed in such a way that a levering tool open to consideration cannot be inserted into the opening area, and up to the inner rim of the lid for application of the levering tool, without breaking the ties.

The opening area originally at least partly sealed off by the cover can display a rim section facing towards the radially outer side of the lid. The rim section can likewise be designed, e.g. as a narrow web, in such a way that it can be torn when the lid is levered off by the tool.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the radially outer edge area of the lid is designed in the form of an essentially radially extending flange, adjacent to which in the radially inward direction is an area with an essentially V-shaped cross-section, specifically with an essentially axially extending annular part with an indentation on the outer side, the radially outer edge of which forms the rim of the lid for application of the levering tool.

The indentation can particularly have the form of a radially inward-facing right-angle bend.

Furthermore, the end of the indentation facing away from the radially extending flange of the lid can display a radially outward-facing annular projection, the outer side of which transitions into an inwardly inclined surface.

The indentation on the outer side of the axially extending, annular part of the lid serves to engage an inward-facing projection in the area of the container opening on the inside of the container to be sealed with the lid. The lid can thus be fastened on the opening rim of the container opening by means of a snap-fitting connection. On the other hand, the essentially axially extending, annular part of the lid can also be clamped into the radially inward-lying rim of the container opening. In this case, the annular part of the lid interacting with the container opening is expediently of slightly conical design.

The inwardly inclined surface adjacent to the radially outward-facing, annular projection, or immediately adjacent to the inward-facing right-angle bend, serves as a guide and centring aid when fitting the lid on the inner rim.

An axial annular flange can be integrally moulded on the end of the inclined surface pointing axially away from the edge area of the lid.

Starting from the axial annular flange, the inclined surface or the radially inward-facing right-angle bend of the essentially axially extending annular part of the lid, an annular, conical area is provided that extends radially inwards, axially to the edge area of the lid and essentially up to the level of the edge area of the lid, such that, starting from its edge area, the cross-section of the lid is of essentially V-shaped design. This V-shaped area transitions, via an essentially trapezoidal section, into an axially inwardly offset, middle area of the lid.

The outer edge of the radially extending flange of the lid can be of inclined design in the direction of the radially extending part of the V-shaped area. As described in more detail below, the purpose of the inclined outer edge of the lid is to ensure that a tool open to consideration for levering open the lid cannot reach between the rim area of the container opening, on which the radially extending flange of the lid lies, or from which it is separated by a very small gap, and the outer edge of the radially extending flange of the lid. The inclined design of the edge additionally prevents the tool from acting on the outward-lying upper edge of the edge area in order to lever open the edge area of the lid and enter the area between the outer edge of the lid and the rim area of the container opening.

The aforementioned object is also solved by a container with a lid having the design features described above, where the container displays a container wall, a container bottom and a container opening with an opening rim, in which context the lid is located on the radially inner side of the opening rim and can be snapped or clamped into the container on the inside of the container. In a preferred embodiment of the container, the container opening displays an inwardly extending rim, against which the radially outer edge of the lid rests.

In an expedient development of the container, the rim of the container opening extending radially inwards transitions, on the inside, into a flange part that is inclined relative to the container bottom and displays a gap from the rim of the lid for application of the levering tool, such that the free end of the levering tool can be inserted between the flange part and the application rim and act below the application rim.

The end of the inclined flange part pointing towards the container bottom can be provided with a radially inward-facing, circumferential projection that snaps into an indentation in the essentially axially extending part of the V-shaped area of the lid and leaves the rim for application of the levering tool clear.

The projection is preferably designed with a T-shaped cross-section.

A practical example of the invention is described in detail below, based on the drawing. The Figures show the following:

FIG. 1A longitudinal section through a practical example, comprising a container and a lid,

FIG. 2 An enlarged view of rim area A in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 A top view of the lid of the container shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 4 An enlarged view of rim area B in FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 A section along line C-C in FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 A longitudinal section through the lid shown FIG. 3, and

FIG. 7 An enlarged view of rim area D in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing show a container 1 with lid 2, where container 1 displays a container wall 3, a container bottom 4 and a container opening 5 with an opening rim 6. Lid 2 is located on the radially inner side of opening rim 6 and can be snapped or clamped into opening rim 6.

Container 1 with lid 2 is a paint pot, where container 1 and lid 2 are manufactured by injection moulding.

Container opening 5 displays an opening rim 6 that extends radially inwards and on whose radially inner side the radially outer edge 7 of lid 2 rests.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3 to 5, radially outer edge area 8 of lid 2 displays an opening area 9. The purpose of this opening area 9 is that a levering tool can be inserted through it to open the lid.

As shown in FIG. 5, in particular, lid 2 displays a rim 10 below its edge area 8, i.e. at an axial distance from edge area 8, under which the free end of the levering tool can act on the lid, and lid 2 can be at least partly lifted off container 1 by pivoting the tool against rim 10. The edge of opening area 9 displays at least one part 11 that can be torn when the lid is levered open by the levering tool.

The condition of part 11 indicates whether lid 2 has not previously been detached from container 1, in which case part 11 is undamaged, or whether lid 2 has already been detached from container 1, in which case part 11 has been torn during levering up of lid 2 by the tool, in which context the tool is supported on opening rim 6 of container 1.

As indicated in FIG. 3, opening area 9 is designed in the form of a slot extending in the circumferential direction of lid 2, where part 11 of the edge of the slot has the form of a narrow web extending on the outer side of opening area 9. If lid 2 is lifted by the levering tool, in which context said tool is supported on part 11 and opening rim 6 of container 1, this causes part 11 to tear.

As furthermore shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, radially outer edge area 8 of lid 2 is designed in the form of an essentially radially extending flange, adjacent to which in the radially inward direction is an area with an essentially V-shaped cross-section. Said area encompasses an essentially axially extending annular part 12 with an indentation 13 on its outer side, whose radially outer rim 10 forms the rim for application of the levering tool. Indentation 13 is designed as a radially inward-pointing right-angle bend of annular part 12.

Furthermore, the end of indentation 13 facing away from edge area 8 of lid 2 displays a radially outward-facing annular projection 14, the outer side of which transitions into an inwardly inclined surface 15. An axial annular flange 16 is integrally moulded on the end of inclined surface 15 facing axially away from edge area 8 of lid 2. Extending from annular flange 16 is an annular, conical area 17 that extends radially inwards, axially to edge area 8 of lid 2 and essentially up to the level of edge area 8 of lid 2. Starting from its edge area 8, the cross-section of lid 2 is of essentially V-shaped design in the radially inward direction. The V-shaped area transitions, via an essentially trapezoidal section 18, into an axially inwardly offset, middle area 19 of lid 2.

Outer edge 7, and also part 11 of the edge of opening area 9 of lid 2 designed as a narrow web, has an outward, downward inclination, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The purpose of the inclined design of edge 7 and part 11 is to ensure that a tool open to consideration for levering open lid 2 cannot reach between opening rim 6 of container opening 5, on which edge area 8 of lid 2 lies, or from which it is separated by a very small gap, and outer edge 7 or part 11 of lid 2. The inclined design additionally prevents the levering tool from acting on the upper edge of edge 7 in order to lever open the edge area of lid 2 and enter the area between outer edge 7 of lid 2 and opening rim 6 of container opening 5.

Lid 2 is connected to container 1 in the manner described below, as can particularly be seen in FIG. 2.

The opening-side end of container 1 displays a separately injection-moulded plastic frame 20, which is snap-fitted onto the opening-side end of container 1. Frame 20 forms opening rim 6 of container 1, which projects radially inwards from container wall 3. Opening rim 6 is designed as an essentially radially extending annular flange, the radially inner end of which transitions into a conical flange part 21, which is inclined relative to container bottom 4. Conical flange part 21 is a distance away from rim 10 of lid 2, which is used for application of the levering tool, such that the free end of the levering tool can be inserted between conical flange part 21 and rim 10 and can be applied under rim 10. Located on the end of conical flange part 21 pointing towards container bottom 4 is a radially inward-pointing annular projection 22, which can be snapped into indentation 13 of axially extending annular part 12 of lid 2. Projection 22 is designed with a T-shaped cross-section, with a radially extending annular web and an axially extending wider area, which snaps in between rim 10 and projection 14 of lid 2. Owing to the T-shaped design of projection 22, a gap remains between rim 10 of lid 2 and conical flange part 21 of frame 20, through which the tool can extend to below rim 10 in order to lever open lid 2.

List of Reference Numbers

-   1 Container -   2 Lid -   3 Container wall -   4 Container bottom -   5 Container opening -   6 Opening rim -   7 Radially outer edge -   8 Edge area -   9 Opening area -   10 Rim -   11 Part -   12 Annular part -   13 Indentation -   14 Projection -   15 Surface -   16 Annular flange -   17 Conical area -   18 Trapezoidal section -   19 Middle area -   20 Frame -   21 Conical flange part -   22 Projection 

1. Lid for a container, characterised in that the radially outer edge area of the lid displays an opening area, through which a tool serving as a lever can extend through the lid edge, and a rim of the lid is provided below the opening area, under which the free end of the levering tool can act on the lid and the lid can be at least partially lifted off the container by pivoting the tool against the rim of the lid, and the edge of the opening area displays at least one part that can be torn off the lid, or broken, when the tool is inserted into the opening area or the lid is levered open.
 2. Lid according to claim 1, characterised in that the opening area is designed in the form of a slot extending in the circumferential direction of the lid and the edge of the slot facing towards the lid is designed as a narrow web that can be torn when levering off the lid.
 3. Lid according to claim 1, characterised in that the opening area is sealed off by a cover before insertion of a tool, said cover being connected to the edge of the opening area via ties, and arranged and designed in such a way that a levering tool open to consideration cannot be inserted into the opening area, and up to the inner rim of the lid for the levering tool, without breaking the ties.
 4. Lid according to claim 1, characterised in that the radially outer edge area of the lid is designed in the form of an essentially radially extending flange, adjacent to which in the radially inward direction is an area with an essentially V-shaped cross-section, with an essentially axially extending annular part with an indentation on the outer side, the radially outer edge of which forms the rim of the lid for the levering tool.
 5. Lid according to claim 4, characterised in that the indentation has the form of a radially inward-facing right-angle bend.
 6. Lid according to claim 4, characterised in that the end of the indentation facing away from the radially extending flange of the lid displays a radially outward-facing annular projection, the outer side of which transitions into an inwardly inclined surface.
 7. Lid according to claim 4, characterised in that the outer edge of the radially extending flange of the lid is of inclined design in the direction of the radially extending part of the V-shaped area.
 8. Container with lid according to claim 1, where the container displays a container wall, a container bottom and a container opening with an opening rim, in which context the lid is located on the radially inner side of the opening rim and can be snapped or clamped into the container on the inside of the container.
 9. Container with lid according to claim 4, characterised in that the container opening displays an inwardly extending opening rim, against which the radially outer edge of the lid rests.
 10. Container with lid according to claim 9, characterised in that the opening rim of the container opening extending radially inwards transitions, on the inside, into a flange part that is inclined relative to the container bottom and displays a gap from the rim of the lid for the levering tool, such that the free end of the levering tool can be inserted between the flange part and the rim and act below the rim.
 11. Container with lid according to claim 10, characterised in that the end of the inclined flange part pointing towards the container bottom is provided with a radially inward-facing, circumferential projection that snaps into an indentation in the essentially axially extending part of the V-shaped area of the lid and leaves the rim for the levering tool clear.
 12. Container with lid according to claim 11, characterised in that the projection is designed with a T-shaped cross-section. 